January
1, 1880 -- ThursdayThe weather was very fine, clear and pleasant all day almost like
a spring day. I was at home in the forenoon and part of the afternoon was
shooting fire crackers, reading in the "Travels of Baron Munchausen"
&c in the forenoon. A.E. Lesher came to our place
about dinner-time
and stayed till about 3 o'clock, came to spend part of his New Year. I was
at the Grindstone Hill church in the evening, I started from home after
Mr. Lesher went home. The Union Sabbath school of Grindstone Hill held
their annual festival. There was a very large crowd present. I got for a
gift a nice nickel watch-chain. There was also a festival at Mt. Zion
school-house. I now start in with my third Diary, and God, alone, knows
what may be before me, before the close of this year, A.D. 1880.

January
2, 1880 -- FridayThe weather was cloudy the greater part of the day, although the
sun shone very brightly at times. The clouds were mostly wind-clouds. The
roads are very muddy. I spent the day very pleasantly in my school at
"Retreat," had two visitors in the afternoon namely: Mr. James
Dysert and Mr. John F. Deardorff. The former gentleman staid about one and
a half hours, and made a very nice address to my school. He appeared to be
very well pleased with my school, both for progress and for order. Mr.
Deardorff stayed up until I swept and attended to my work, and we came
down the road as far as to where he turned off. Peter Dick died on this,
the second day of the New Year, and also Mrs. Henry Peiffer. This kind of
weather is very unhealthy.

January
3, 1880 -- SaturdayThe weather was cloudy and cool all day, at times it appeared as
though it would rain or snow, but in the evening it cleared off nicely.
There was a rain-bow in the morning about sunrise, which is, they say, a
sign of a storm. A rainbow at this time of the year is of rare occurence.
D.G. Hoover was here in the forenoon. He lost his paper last evening, and
he came over to read the news out of our paper. I was in town in the
forenoon, got my hair cut at Holtzworth's barber shop. I got also an
almanac for this year, and a box of collars. Just as I was going to start
for home, Adam Deem asked me to take him along home, and I was turning
around on West Market Street, my horse took fright at a side of
shoe-leather and turned too short, and broke eight spokes out of the right
front wheel. I took the buggy to Rodger's coach shop to get fixed.

January
4, 1880 -- SundayThe weather was very pleasant in the forenoon, but in the
afternoon it clouded up and there were some appearances for rain in the
evening. Pap rode to the Grindstone Hill church in the forenoon. There was
a funeral sermon preached by Mr. Comfort. There was to be regular service,
but the funeral of Mrs. Henry Peiffer occurred. The funeral of Peter Dick
also took place at the Catholic church in Chambersburg. A small child of
Jacob S[..]ull now lays a corpse and will be buried to-morrow. There was
singing at the Chicago school-house, in the evening, by J.A. Pfoutz, but
the accident that happened me yesterday deprived me of going. It seems
strange to me to write so much for one day, as I am used to writing only
about half as much as I can now [his earlier diaries had two days per
page; this year's has only one day per page, giving more room to write.]

January
5, 1880 -- MondayThe weather was cloudy all day, began to rain in the
afternoon. I had to come home from school in the rain. I passed the day
very pleasantly in my school. Mr. F.J. Pfoutz was in my school a little
while in the afternoon. He came with his horse and wagon for his children,
as it was raining about the time that the school left out. I bought a box
of crayons for the school, as I went by Jackson Hall on my way to the
school house in the morning. Pap was in the shop making brooms. I went
into the shop in the morning as I went to school and took my first look at
our new sleigh. I spent the evening playing dominos with Jake and Pap. The
tally was Jake 3 games, Pap 3 games and I 2 games of points. Pap had 32,
Jake had 28, and I had 28.

January
6, 1880 -- TuesdayThe weather was very inclement, rained very heavily in the
forenoon at times, and occasionally in the afternoon, but most in the
forenoon. I passed my day in my school, had a pretty large school
considering the inclemency of the weather. I came from the school house to
New Franklin, and got my supper at Grandmother's. I then went to the New
Franklin school-house at which place the [New Franklin Literary] society
convened. The crowd was
small, only about 8 members present. There were several pieces of Select
Reading by Miss Annie Gilwicks, D.G. Hoover, J.F. Deardorff, A.B. Shetter,
and C.A. Hassler. We had, also, the same dialogue that we had one week
ago. There was no debate. Jacob and Mother are both sick. They have
sore-throat. Pap got powders from Dr. Bachs.

January
7, 1880 -- WednesdayThe weather was very cloudy and damp all day. This kind of weather
is very injurious to health, much more so than if it were very cold. The
roads are very muddy and bad. I passed the day very pleasantly in my
school. Mr. Benjamin Lehman, one of our school directors, was in my school
in the afternoon. I asked him to make an address, but as he is
unaccustomed to making addresses in public, he declined. Mother and Jacob
have recovered some in health since last evening, but both have the sore
throat yet. David Singer was at our house in the evening, came over to
pass the evening. I got the loan of a "Brown's Grammar" of F.J.
Pfoutz. I came home from Jackson Hall with Mr. Abram Lesher in the buggy
this evening.

January
8, 1880 -- ThursdayThe weather was cloudy all day, but did not rain, in the evening
the stars were shining. I hope now we will have other weather, and that
to-morrow we can see the sun once more as we have not seen it for nearly a
week. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school. My three largest and
best scholars were absent. I got for Thomas Horn an Arithmetic, as I came
past Jackson Hall on my way home in the evening. We were playing dominos
in the evening. Jacob had the greatest number of spots, The score being
Jake, 552, Pap, 552, and I, myself, 352. The year 1880 is now one week
old. I have now sixty-eight days put in teaching, and according to my
certificate, about $80.24 earned, enough to pay my buggy.

January
9, 1880 -- FridayThe weather was cloudy and gloomy all day, very foggy in the
morning and part of the forenoon. I passed the day in my school. We had a
general review in Arithmetic in the afternoon. I gave to Harry Pfoutz the
following question for him to work out over Saturday and Sunday, "How
many gallons of water in a canal, 50 miles long, 35 feet wide, and 15 feet
deep?" We passed the evening playing dominos. The score was in
playing match game. Pap 388, Jake 126, and myself 243, and in playing
eucher. Pap had 6 games and 41 points, Jake had 3 games and 33 points and
I had 4 games and 36 points. To-morrow three weeks I can draw some money,
as a recompense from the school-board of our Township and will have
completed 3 1/2 months.

January
10, 1880 -- SaturdayThe weather was very fine. The morning appeared like a spring
morning, and the day on the whole was clear and beautiful. At night the
sky was all ablaze with stars. To see the sun once again appears strange.
I was cleaning the stables, helping to cut wood, playing dominos &c in
the forenoon. I was in town in the afternoon. There were a great many
people in town. I got my buggy at Rodger's, which had been broken one week
ago, my bill is $2.90 and I will pay it as soon as I can. The wheel has
now twelve new spokes. I did not get home with the buggy until a while
after night, came out the Greencastle road, turned off of it at Peter
Christ's, and stopped off at a house along the way and spent part of the
night there.

January
11, 1880 -- SundayThe weather was clear and pleasant in the forenoon, but got very
cloudy in the afternoon. Pap and Jake were at the Grindstone Hill church
in the forenoon. They went up in my buggy. They thought that there was
Sunday School, but there was none. They now have it changed from every
Sunday to every other Sunday, and Pap did not know it. Pap was "out
of humor" when he came home, because he had been fooled up. I had a
very sore throat, so I did not get up to the Hill. I called in Dr. Bachs
as he was driving past, and he gave me some gargle, some cooling drops and
a calomel powder. My throat got very sore in the evening, and I passed a
very restless night. One of my pupils, Katie Pfoutz, died in the night of
Diphtheria. This was the last night of singing at the Spring.

January
12, 1880 -- MondayThe weather was cloudy and warm in the forenoon, cloudy and rainy,
cold and windy in the afternoon, snowed in the evening. Jake was in school
after an absence of a week. I could not go to my school on account of my
sore throat. Pap rode to my school-house and informed my scholars that
there would be no school. Pap was in New Franklin, and got for me of Dr.
Bachs 8 powders and a bottle of Chloride of Magnesia. He hitched-up in my
buggy and went to the school-house for Jake after school. Uncle Hen Snyder
was here in the afternoon, also, D.G. Hoover. They came in to see how I
was getting. The Doctor was also here toward evening and left a small
bottle of cooling drops.

January
13, 1880 -- TuesdayThe weather was clear and somewhat cool all day. The snow melted
very little. If there would fall 6 or 8 inches more snow, there would be
sleighing. I still have sore throat, and it has run into Diphtheria. Dr.
Bachs and his hostler, Joseph Arrant, were here in the afternoon. The Dr.
burned out my throat with a caustic of Nitrate of Silver. D.G. Hoover and
David Senger stopped in to see how I was as they were on their way to
Society. Mrs. Wertz and Charlie were also here in the evening. They
brought some splits up for me to make a wallet and two picture frames for
them. Pap was at the Literary Society, which was of a highly interesting
character. D.G. Hoover took my place as Secretary.

January 14, 1880 -- WednesdayThe weather was clear and cold all day, although I did not get out
to feel the fresh air, am still confined to the sick room of Diphtheria
which I think is getting somewhat better and I hope it soon may, as I am
anxious to get to my school. Mr. Reed was here a little while in the
forenoon. Pap was in town in the forenoon, took some onions &c in, and
bought a fat lamp, some oranges and lemons &c. Dr. Bachs and his
hostler were here in the afternoon. The Dr. again burned out my throat and
it is a great deal better than it was yesterday. I was very busily engaged
during the day making wallets and picture frames for Mrs. Wertz. We were
playing dominos in the evening. Pap beat, having 482 spots.

January
15, 1880 -- ThursdayThe weather was cloudy and cool. Snowed from about eleven o'clock
to about one. A little bit more, and then we can try the new sleigh. I
passed the day almost all alone in the room. David Senger was here in the
forenoon a little while, got a jacket, from which to cut a pattern for a
jacket for him. D.G. Hoover stopped in a little while, on his way home
from school, to see how I was getting along with my sore throat, which is
a great deal better than it was. Mrs. Wertz, Mrs. Boggs, and Mr. Wertz
were here in the evening, came up to spend the evening and to get her
wallet and pictures and frames. Pap was in the shop, making brooms. Dr.
Bachs was not about today.

January
16, 1880 -- FridayThe weather was foggy and frosty the greater part of the forenoon,
but partially cleared off in the afternoon, and again cloudy toward
evening. I passed the day at home all alone almost. I was reading and looking
over the maps of Franklin Co. in an atlas which Jacob bought from Reeds
last evening. Pap was in the shop making brooms, Mother was washing, and
Jacob was at school. D.G. Hoover and C.B. Dysert were here a little bit in
the afternoon after school. My throat feels considerably better and I hope
by next Monday to again go to my school, I have now lost one week, which
time I shall have to put in in the Spring. I hope I will lose no more
time.

January
17, 1880 -- SaturdayThe weather was foggy and cloudy the greater part of the day. The
sun shone dimly at times. I passed the day in the room, mostly, was on the
porch a short time in the afternoon. Pap and Jake were cutting wood and
cleaning stables in the forenoon. We were playing dominoes and checkers
the greater part of the afternoon. D.G. Hoover and David Senger were here
in the evening, they came here to spend the evening. We were playing
dominoes, with the following score, Dan 263, Pap 281, Jake 164,Dave 160,
and myself 263. Dan and I came out alike and we left "poor Dave"
behind. Were I perfectly well, I would not have been at home this evening.
But so goes life, "Man can make calculations and God destroy
them."

January
18, 1880 -- SundayThe weather was somewhat cloudy at times, it appeared almost like
clouds of smoke, at times the sun shone very brightly and the day was
warm. Pap and Mother were in St. Thomas, went up in the morning and
returned in the evening, in my buggy. Jacob was at the Grindstone Hill
church almost all day, went up in the morning to attend our Sunday School
and preaching and stayed up for the Lutheran Sabbath-School. Messrs. John
H. Shetter and D.G. Hoover were here spending the afternoon. We had a very
pleasant time. D.G. Hoover took sick, I think he has sore throat. Dr.
Bachs went out in the afternoon. To-morrow I will again try the school,
and I hope I may keep good health.

January
19, 1880 -- MondayThe weather was fine. It was clear and pleasant all day, almost
like a spring day. It appears that we are to have no winter at all this
winter, but perhaps it may come yet severe enough. The roads are very
muddy. I passed the day in my school, drove up in the buggy in the
morning, and took Mrs. Pfoutz along part of the way. Harry Pfoutz is very
sick with Pneumonia. We passed the evening playing dominoes. Jacob beat
Pap and I pretty bad. There is a very large band of Gypsies encamped in
Reeds woods, they must be a pretty rich band as they have some very nice
horses and wagons. Pap was at Uncle Hen Snyder's cutting wood and Mother
was in New Franklin.

January
20, 1880 -- TuesdayThe weather was somewhat cloudy all day. The sun shone at times,
but not very long at a time. There was quite a heavy thundergust in the
evening, the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed, just like a
mid-summer gust. After the gust it was very windy, and I suppose it will
now get cold. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school, drove up and
had my horse in Hipfer's Stable. Jacob went to New Franklin before the
gust, and at the time I write this, he has not returned. Perhaps he will
stay at Grandmother's all night. Pap would have gone to the Literary
Society if it would not have rained. I passed the evening reading and
studying and preparing the minutes of the last evening of Society. --
W.F.Z.

January
21, 1880 - WednesdayThe weather was very fine. The sun shone beautifully all day, and
the air appeared more pure than it did yesterday, though it was in no wise
cold. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school, drove up in the
morning. I took Aunt Hannah part of the way to Maria Hassler's in the
morning and brought her home in the evening. I was in to see Harry Pfoutz,
who is now lying very low with Pneumonia, as I passed the Hall on my way
home in the evening. George, Charlie, and Annie Wertz were at our
house a little while in the evening. They cannot get along with their
teacher, Ben Peters. I passed the part of the evening after they went home
studying my History, Grammar, and Mental Arithmetic lessons for to-morrow.

January
22, 1880 -- ThursdayThe weather was very inclement all day. It began to rain in the
morning as I was on my way to school and continued raining all day,
ceasing for a little while every now and then. I drove to my school, at
which place I passed the day. I came home through the rain. A.B. Shetter
was here in the evening, We passed the evening playing dominoes. When we
were playing match game I beat, having two hundred more points than Pap,
who was the one next to me. When we were playing euchre, Jacob and I beat
Pap and Abe, I was ciphering after Abe went home, worked out one of the
Compound Partnership questions in Brook's Written Arithmetic. It was quite
late when I got to bed.

January
23, 1880 -- FridayThe weather was somewhat cloudy and cold all day. The clouds were
principally wind-clouds. I passed the day very pleasantly in my school. I
drove up, and had my horse in Hipfer's Stable. I have now put in one week
since my sickness, have now forty-seven days to teach yet this winter. We
were playing dominoes in the evening, I flatter myself to such an extent
to say that I was the best player. I got four games, 37 points, and 1 cat,
whilst Pap, the next one to me had 4 games, 32 points and 2 cats. On next
Friday evening, if the weather is nice, I think I will have spelling
school at my school-house, and to-morrow evening a week, there is to be an
exhibition in St. Thomas.

January
24, 1880 -- SaturdayThe weather was very fine, the sky it was clear
all day and the air was somewhat cool. The weather, since the rain, is
more healthy than it had been before, but it appears that it cannot get
cold and give snow, so that we can have sleighing and try the new sleigh
which Pap bought built. I have now made two mistakes on
this page. It is owing to the confusion which Jacob makes reading aloud. I
cannot get my mind composed, when there is reading or talking. Pap was in
town in the forenoon and got 3 boards with which to make another book-case
to give to Aunt Sue. I cleaned the stables &c in the forenoon and
passed the afternoon reading, was also to see D.G. Hoover, who took sick
on last Sabbath. He is slowly improving.

January
25, 1880 -- SundayThe weather was very pleasant, although the sun shone quite dim at
times, the air was not so cold as it was yesterday. I passed the forenoon
very pleasantly in bed, sleeping, did not get up for breakfast. I enjoyed
sleep very much, having lost a good deal of the article last night. I was
at home in the afternoon, reading and ciphering. Jacob rode "Old
Frank" to the Grindstone Hill church in the forenoon. There was
Lutheran Sunday-School and Preaching by Rev. A.H. Shertz. We did not have
Sunday-school, will only have every two weeks. I passed the evening
studying and talking. There was singing at the Chicago school-house by J.A.
Pfoutz in the evening. I was not in attendance, and I do not think I shall
tend it much.

January
26, 1880 -- MondayThe weather was very fine. The sky was clear, and the air was
pleasant. It was a little frosty in the morning, but got very pleasant
long before dinner. I drove up to my school-house in the morning and
passed the day very pleasantly in my school. I brought John Pfoutz along
down from the Hall, as I came past them on my way home from school. Pap
fixed the churn, in New Franklin. I took it up in the morning and brought
it along home in the evening. Pap and Jake were playing dominoes in the
evening, and I was filling out my school report and made a new roll for
our Society. I was also studying. I studied very hard till 10 o'clock at
Prob. 28, Page 150 Brook's Mental Arithmetic.

January
27, 1880 -- TuesdayThe weather was very inclement, at times cloudy and rainy the
greater part of the day, toward evening it cleared of, and the evening was
clear and moonlight, but the roads were very muddy. I drove to the
school-house, and passed the day in my school. I was at the New Franklin
Literary Society in the evening, which was very well attended, and the
exercises were very interesting and instructive. The question,
"Resolved, that conscience is a correct moral guide" was debated
by F.T. Snyder in the affirmative, and by J.H. Deardorff in the negative.
The question was discussed very ably on both sides and D.L. Grove, Frank
Trace, and myself the appointed judges decided for the negative. Aunt
Eliza Snyder died, after a long illness, in the evening.

January
28, 1880 -- WednesdayThe weather was very pleasant and clear all day. I suppose that if
this kind of weather keeps on for two or three months more, we will have
no winter at all. I passed the day in my school, to which place I drove
in the morning. I have now two months to teach yet, and then I am done for
this winter. One of Joseph Nicklas' children was buried at the cemetery.
It died of Scarlet fever. I was at Lesher's School-house in the evening,
there was spelling school by C.B. Dysert. I did not spell, but pronounced
after intermission. J.F. Hoover stood the floor. I filled out my school
report after I got home. To-morrow J.W. Funk and Miss Edith Barr will get
married.

January
29, 1880 -- ThursdayThe weather was very pleasant all day. The sun shone almost all
day, but quite dimly at times. The atmosphere changed toward evening, and
got quite cool and sharp. I drove to my school-house in the morning, at
which place I passed the day, in my school. I brought Mrs. Pfoutz down
from Jackson Hall in the evening, and C.B. Dysert from New Franklin down
as far as our place. I passed the evening at home, studying my lessons in
Mental Arithmetic, Grammar and History. I was also helping Jake and Pap to
play dominoes. We played the game known as euchre and Jacob was the
champion player. I was also studying on the question for debate, and a
speech for to-morrow evening at spelling.

January
30, 1880 -- FridayThe weather was cloudy and cool all day, threatening for rain. I
passed the day in my school, very pleasantly. I walked up for the first
time in three weeks. Pap and Mother taking my buggy and the horse to
attend Aunt Eliza Snyder's funeral, which was very largely attended. C.B.
Dysert was in my school in the afternoon, visiting. He was very well
pleased with my school. We went to Tritle's for our supper and were very
well treated by all in the family. They are a very clever family, and Mr.
Dysert and I were very well pleased. We came then to my school-house (Tritle's
Girls and me) where there was spelling school by myself. Harve Glugson
stood the floor. Pap came up for me and we broke the front spring in my
buggy.

January
31, 1880 -- SaturdayThe weather was somewhat cloudy in the forenoon, rained and
sleeted a little, cleared off very nicely in the afternoon and got quite
cold. I cleaned the stables and Pap fixed my buggy spring with wood and
straps in the forenoon. Jacob and I went to town in the afternoon. The
school-board met. I lifted my buggy note and received $11.87 besides. I
paid J.H. Rodgers for the fixing of my buggy-wheel which I broke on the
3rd of this month. We went there, to St. Thomas, at which place the band
had an entertainment, which we attended. It was a grand and magnificent
exhibition, consisting of Dialogues, Tableaux and Music. The best play was
one entitled Fate and the Peddler. -- W.F.Z.

William's brother Jacob also taught for
a number of years, at the St.
Thomas school-house, but eventually left teaching and went
to work at the Frick Manufacturing Company in Waynesboro (from Family
History: John Ludwig Detrich: Franklin County, PA, a paper read before a
meeting of the Kittochtinny Historical Society of Franklin County, Pa., which
was held at the Summer Cottage of Harvey W. Spessard, in the Graffenburg Hills
of the South Mountain Monday evening, June 28th, 1926, by the author, Charles M.
Deatrich, of St. Thomas, Pennsylvania.)